Headwear with an Integrated Cooling System

ABSTRACT

A headwear with an integrated cooling fan is an apparatus that provides cooling relief and shade while preserving a clear view of the surroundings for a user. The apparatus includes a headwear body, at least one centrifugal fan, a microcontroller, and a portable power source. The headwear body is preferably a hat such as a baseball cap or a shade hat and includes a head-bracing portion and a flat protrusion. The at least one centrifugal fan includes inlet and an outlet in order to push air towards the face. The at least one centrifugal fan is mounted onto a second face of the flat protrusion. The at least one centrifugal fan occupies minimal space underneath the flat protrusion. The microcontroller manages the functions of the at least one centrifugal fan. The portable power source provides the necessary power to the at least one centrifugal fan and the microcontroller.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/872,777 filed on Jul. 11, 2019.

The current application is also a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of a U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/043,968 filed on Jul. 24, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to hats. More specifically, the present invention is a headwear with an integrated cooling fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air-cooling hat designs are commonly available in the market that utilizes wearable fans. However, these air-cooling hats use traditional fans, otherwise known as axial fans. Axial fans work in a very different way from the centrifugal fans. Axial fans pull air from the back of a fan body and push it forward. Centrifugal fans pull air into the fan body and push it at a right angel. The centrifugal fan is ideal for lying flat beneath the brim of a hat so that the fan body does not block the view of the hat wearer. Furthermore, air-cooling hats presently on the market with built in axial fans have the fans either situated above the brim with an opening in the fabric near the forehead, or axial fans situated above the brim with an opening in the brim so that air can be pushed through this opening.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to include a centrifugal fan that is sewn in or otherwise affixed during the manufacture process underneath the brim of the hat so that no opening is necessary. So, the mechanism used for cooling the face of a user and the placement of the mechanism with the hat are factors which are significantly different from existing air-cooling hats with built in fan cooling systems that are situated above the brim and require openings in the fabric of the hat to blow air on the wearer. The mechanism used for cooling and the position of the mechanism with the hat provides much more stability for brim of the hat and the area above the brim of the hat in comparison to that of existing air-cooling hats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear side view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electrical connections and the electronic connections of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a headwear with an integrated cooling fan. The present invention preserves the structure and aesthetic of the headwear by concealing the integrated cooling fan underneath the headwear. The arrangement of the integrated cooling fan with the headwear for the present invention allows the integrated cooling fan to be positioned underneath the headwear without traversing through the headwear, further preserving the structural integrity of the headwear. The present invention comprises a headwear body 1, at least one centrifugal fan 8, a microcontroller 15, and a portable power source 16, seen in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5. The headwear is a clothing accessory that is worn around the head of a user. The headwear may be, but is not limited to, a baseball cap, a shade hat, a sun visor, and a boater hat. The headwear body 1 comprises a head-bracing portion 2 and a flat protrusion 5. The head-bracing portion 2 wraps around the head and secures the headwear to the head of the user. The flat protrusion 5 shields the user from light. Moreover, the flat protrusion 5 provides shade for the face of the user. The flat protrusion 5 comprises a first face 6 and a second face 7. The first face 6 comes into direct contact with sunlight or artificial light, the at least one centrifugal fan 8 is secured with the second face 7. The at least one centrifugal fan 8 provides a constant and directed flow of air towards the face of the user. The at least one centrifugal fan 8 comprises an inlet 9 and an outlet 10, in order to draw in air and output forced air, respectively. The microcontroller 15 manages the functions and controls of the at least one centrifugal fan 8. The portable power source 16 provides the necessary power for the microcontroller 15 and the portable power source 16. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power source is a lithium coin battery. However, various embodiments of the present invention may comprise a variety of power sources. The power source is also preferably rechargeable.

The overall configuration of the aforementioned components provides a relieving and consistent breeze of air towards a face of a user without inhibiting the view of the user while wearing the present invention. In order to shield the face of the user from direct contact with light, the flat protrusion 5 is externally portioned with the head-bracing portion 2 and is fixed adjacent to a rim 3 of the head-bracing portion 2, seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The rim 3 of the head-bracing portion 2 surrounds the circumference of the head of the user. The first face 6 is oriented towards a crown 4 of the head-bracing portion 2, and the second face 7 is oriented away from the crown 4. This arrangement provides an area of shade for the face of the user with the flat protrusion 5. The at least one centrifugal fan 8 is mounted onto the second face 7, thereby providing a direct and continuous flow of air to the face of the user. More specifically, the inlet 9 is oriented towards the rim 3 of the head-bracing portion 2, and the outlet 10 is oriented away from the rim 3 of the head-bracing portion 2. The microcontroller 15 and the portable power source 16 are integrated into the head-bracing portion 2, providing a compact and portable headwear body 1. In order for the at least one centrifugal fan 8 to operate, the at least one centrifugal fan 8 is electronically connected with the microcontroller 15. The at least one centrifugal fan 8 and the microcontroller 15 are electrically connected with the portable power source 16, delivering power to effectively function. It is understood that wiring between the at least one centrifugal fan 8, the microcontroller 15, and the portable power source 16 are integrated into a fabric layer of the head-bracing portion 2 and positioned within the flat protrusion 5.

The at least one centrifugal fan 8 comprises a compact structure while providing a sufficient breeze towards the face of a user, as the at least one centrifugal fan 8 comprises a housing 11, a fan wheel 12, and a motor 13, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5. The housing 11 contains the motor 13 and upholds the fan wheel 12. The fan wheel 12 creates the flow of air into and out of the at least one centrifugal fan 8, and the motor 13 rotates the fan wheel 12. The flow of air from the at least one centrifugal fan 8 comes into direct contact with the face of the user as housing 11 is mounted onto the second face 7. Air is pulled into the housing 11 as the inlet 9 traverses into the housing 11, opposite the second face 7. The outlet 10 traverses out of the housing 11, perpendicular to the inlet 9, orienting the flow of air towards the face of the user, with respect to the flat protrusion 5. The fan wheel 12 is rotatably mounted within the housing 11, thereby forcing air through the outlet 10. For a continuous flow, the inlet 9 is in fluid communication with the outlet 10 through the fan wheel 12. The fan wheel 12 is automatically operated as the motor 13 is operatively coupled to the fan wheel 12, wherein the motor 13 is used to rotate the fan wheel 12. In order to turn the motor 13 on and turn the motor 13 off, the motor 13 is electronically connected to the microcontroller 15. The housing 11 is preferably swivelably connected onto the second face 7 so that a user may manually orient the outlet 10 to blow air directly to specific area of the face of the user.

The user has further control over the flow of air from the at least one centrifugal fan 8 as the at least one centrifugal fan 8 further comprises at least one louver 14, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The at least one louver 14 provides a manual control over the intensity of the flow of the air exiting the outlet 10 and the angle of the flow of air. In order to control the flow of air directly exiting the outlet 10, the at least one louver 14 traverses across the outlet 10 and is rotatably mounted into the outlet 10.

The at least one centrifugal fan 8 is further operated by the user as the present invention further comprises a power button 17 and a speed-control button 18, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. The power button 17 manages the power from the portable power source 16 to the at least one centrifugal fan 8, more specifically, the motor 13. The speed-control button 18 manages the intensity of the speed for the motor 13 with the fan wheel 12. The power button 17 and the speed-control button 18 are positioned in between the crown 4 and the rim 3 and are externally mounted onto the head-bracing portion 2 so that the user may readily access both the power button 17 and the speed-control button 18. This arrangement also prevents the head of the user from accidentally pressing the power button 17 and the speed-control button 18. In order for the power button 17 and the speed-control button 18 to be operable, the power button 17 and the speed-control button 18 are electronically connected to the microcontroller 15.

In a first embodiment of the present invention the flat protrusion 5 is a bill, seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The bill shields only the face of the user from direct light. The bill preferably defines the headwear body 1 as a baseball cap. The microcontroller 15 is positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan 8 about the rim 3 in order to preserve the compact structure of the present invention and the aesthetic of the present invention. The portable power source 16 is positioned adjacent to the at least one centrifugal fan 8 about the rim 3 in order to facilitate the placement of the headwear body 1 around the head of the user.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the flat protrusion 5 is a brim 3, seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The brim 3 shields the face and an area around the head of the user from direct light, including the back of the neck. The brim 3 preferably defines the headwear body 1 as a shade hat. Similar to the first embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 15 is positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan 8 about the rim 3 in order to preserve the compact structure of the present invention and the aesthetic of the present invention. The portable power source 16 is positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan 8 about the rim 3 in order to balance the overall weight of the headwear body 1.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A headwear with an integrated cooling fan comprises: a headwear body; at least one centrifugal fan; a microcontroller; a portable power source; the headwear body comprises a head-bracing portion and a flat protrusion; the flat protrusion comprises a first face and a second face; the at least one centrifugal fan comprises an inlet and an outlet; the flat protrusion being externally portioned with the head-bracing portion; the flat protrusion being fixed adjacent to a rim of the head-bracing portion; the first face being oriented towards a crown of the head-bracing portion; the second face being oriented away from the crown; the at least one centrifugal fan being mounted onto the second face; the inlet being oriented towards the rim of the head-bracing portion; the outlet being oriented away from the rim of the head-bracing portion; the microcontroller and the portable power source being integrated into the head-bracing portion; the at least one centrifugal fan being electronically connected with the microcontroller; and, the at least one centrifugal fan and the microcontroller being electrically connected with the portable power source.
 2. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the at least one centrifugal fan further comprises a housing, a fan wheel, and a motor; the housing being mounted onto the second face; the inlet traversing into the housing, opposite the second face; the outlet traversing out of the housing, perpendicular to the inlet; the fan wheel being rotatably mounted within the housing; the inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet through the fan wheel; the motor being operatively coupled to the fan wheel, wherein the motor is used to rotate the fan wheel; and, the motor being electronically connected to the microcontroller.
 3. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the housing being swivelably connected onto the second face.
 4. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the at least one centrifugal fan further comprises at least one louver; the at least one louver traversing across the outlet; and, the at least one louver being rotatably mounted into the outlet.
 5. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a power button; a speed-control button; the power button and the speed-control button being positioned in between the crown and the rim; the power button and the speed-control button being externally mounted onto the head-bracing portion; and, the power button and the speed-control button being electronically connected to the microcontroller.
 6. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat protrusion is a bill.
 7. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the microcontroller being positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim; and, the portable power source being positioned adjacent to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim.
 8. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat protrusion is a brim.
 9. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 8 comprises: the microcontroller being positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim; and, the portable power source being positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim.
 10. A headwear with an integrated cooling fan comprises: a headwear body; at least one centrifugal fan; a microcontroller; a portable power source; a power button; a speed-control button; the headwear body comprises a head-bracing portion and a flat protrusion; the flat protrusion comprises a first face and a second face; the at least one centrifugal fan comprises an inlet and an outlet; the flat protrusion being externally portioned with the head-bracing portion; the flat protrusion being fixed adjacent to a rim of the head-bracing portion; the first face being oriented towards a crown of the head-bracing portion; the second face being oriented away from the crown; the at least one centrifugal fan being mounted onto the second face; the inlet being oriented towards the rim of the head-bracing portion; the outlet being oriented away from the rim of the head-bracing portion; the microcontroller and the portable power source being integrated into the head-bracing portion; the power button and the speed-control button being positioned in between the crown and the rim; the power button and the speed-control button being externally mounted onto the head-bracing portion; the at least one centrifugal fan being, the power button, and the speed-control button electronically connected with the microcontroller; and, the at least one centrifugal fan and the microcontroller being electrically connected with the portable power source.
 11. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 10 comprises: the at least one centrifugal fan further comprises a housing, a fan wheel, and a motor; the housing being mounted onto the second face; the inlet traversing into the housing, opposite the second face; the outlet traversing out of the housing, perpendicular to the inlet; the fan wheel being rotatably mounted within the housing; the inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet through the fan wheel; the motor being operatively coupled to the fan wheel, wherein the motor is used to rotate the fan wheel; and, the motor being electronically connected to the microcontroller.
 12. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 11 comprises: the housing being swivelably connected onto the second face.
 13. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 11 comprises: the at least one centrifugal fan further comprises at least one louver; the at least one louver traversing across the outlet; and, the at least one louver being rotatably mounted into the outlet.
 14. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flat protrusion is a bill.
 15. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 14 comprises: the microcontroller being positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim; and, the portable power source being positioned adjacent to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim.
 16. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flat protrusion is a brim.
 17. The headwear with an integrated cooling fan as claimed in claim 16 comprises: the microcontroller being positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim; and, the portable power source being positioned opposite to the at least one centrifugal fan about the rim 